Chapter 6 - Urban water supplies in developing countries with a focus on climate change

Abstract

Water is important for human existence. Developing countries are challenged with the need and expense of clean water. Developing countries are located in areas of the world with the largest growing human population. This gives rise for more efficient and realistic future planning for urban living. The above concerns with respect to developing countries are further challenged by climate change and its impact on clean water availability and urban water supplies. The three pillars of sustainability are environmental, social, and economic and are very much embedded in urban water issues and developing countries. This chapter will discuss urbanization in developing countries involving urban cities, peri-urban, and slums in relation to water supplies and challenges due to climate change. Water sourcing challenges will be discussed including water demands, water scarcity, and pollution concerns. Waste management in correlation with source water availability will be addressed. Centralized and noncentralized approaches for drinking water supplies will be outlined. Infrastructure challenges including maintenance and robustness to climate change will be outlined. Other areas such as water harvesting, water storage, and innovative means of obtaining portable water will be outlined including desalination, water recycling, and fog traps. Mitigation and adaptation approaches for managing water sources and urban water supplies due to the impacts of climate change including droughts and floods, land disturbances and extreme weather events. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing climate change and water presently and into the future are also discussed. Bottom up and green roots strategies for water resource management in line with climate change including the role of education and citizen science will be outlined in this chapter. Nurturing the benefits from climate change and encouraging more awareness of conservation and preservation will be discussed. The human right to water in developing urban community will benefit from the findings of this review chapter.